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Church & State

Texas GOP Votes For God, Commandments

More than 95 percent of Texas Republicans voting in the statewide primary would like to see governmental promotion of God, prayer and the Ten Commandments in public buildings and schools.

On the March 2 ballot, Texas Republicans could vote on Ballot Proposition 4, which stated: “The use of the word ‘God,’ prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as be permitted on government buildings and property.”

Don Byrd of the Baptist Joint Committee’s “Blog from the Capitol” said the measure’s language was seriously misleading because references to religion are already allowed in public places as long as individuals and not government do the promotion. He suspected cynical manipulation of voter emotions.

“Dividing citizens between religious and non-religious is a sad political strategy, bad for our politics and our religion alike,” wrote Byrd. “It replaces serious discussion about church-state issues and the role of faith in government with a false choice and a foolish contest, over who loves God more.”